How to Become a Morning Workout Person

I used to really enjoy morning workouts, and then my schedule changed and I fell out of habit of getting up in the morning. For me, it makes more sense to do it this way and get it out of the way, since I tend to get busy and my energy levels drop in the evenings. I have been getting up again now for almost a month and I am happy with my current routine. Here are a few tips to get you on your way to waking up and taking charge of your workout.

Morning Workout Tips

1. Go to bed at a decent time

The main excuse that I, and most others have is that they can’t fall asleep. But sleep is a habit just like most things we do. Having a set bedtime helps to train the body to develop proper circadian rhythms and leads to more rested and effective sleep.

To set a bedtime, first identify how many hours of sleep you would ideally need to function, choose your ideal wake up time to make your morning workout, and then work backward to find your new bedtime. The key is to keep this bedtime and wake up time the same each day to truly create a habit. This was a little difficult for me at first, so I worked my way back 15 minutes at a time until I got to the appropriate time for me, which is 5:30 am.

2. Lose the electronics at least 30 minutes before your bedtime.

This will help calm the body and mind and prepare you for sleep. Shut off the TV and laptops, and put your phone on the charger AWAY from your bed. During this time, you can do some light reading, knitting, or journaling to shut your mind down.

3. Prep for the next day before bed

Get your clothes together and pressed, meal prep and pack your food for the day, and get your bags ready to go. They way you can just grab everything and go in the morning. I even get my coffee ready to the point that I just need to add the hot water to the french press. It saves me so much time and lets me sleep a few extra minutes.

4. Put your alarm at least 5 feet away from your bed.

To avoid hitting the snooze button 80 times and skipping your workout, place your phone or alarm at least 5 feet away from your bed. This way you have to physically get up to turn it off.

5. Sleep in Your Workout Clothes

I sometimes sleep in my workout leggings and sports bra so that I can really just up and go, and so that I don’t have any excuses about trying to find my clothes in the morning.